Early Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

Vancouver's Coal Harbour and downtown as seen from Stanley Park. I was lucky to see one of those amazing sunrises where the clouds are just right and the sky just lights up. Believe it or not, the colour is all natural. In fact, I tried to bring the brightness of the cloud in the sky a little lower and I couldn't do it, because it was a little blown out in the red channel. This was taken pretty early in the morning, well before the sun actually came up, so unfortunately most people were sleeping and missed this.

I've uploaded a workshop that shows a sale that I had as a result of TE. A visual display designer saw one of my photos on TE and contacted me about using it for a store display. They ended up using 4 photos for a wall size mural, 3.5 meters high and about 20 meters long in total. The workshop shows the mural after installed in the store. It's pretty strange to walk into a store and see your photos that large! For anyone in the Vancouver area who wants to see it, it's in the TNA store in the Metrotown Mall.

kurekpit, SamB, Giis, ChrisJ, nwoehnl, PixelTerror, silvia_zenova, prezntime, MikiM, lilimih33, john_c, singuanti, Cretense, evanrizo, sabyasachi1212, Benedict, abulafia, Yffic has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

tigra (2968) 2007-01-15 21:13

Hello Alvin
Incredible colors!!! Wonderful view on Vancouver's Coal Harbour and downtown.
But if you crop the left side and the bottom, it will look much better to my mind.
Katia

kurekpit (401) 2007-01-15 21:16

Hi Alvin
Very nice picture,great colours and Sharpness
Well done,regards
TFS

* Piotr *

vjmite (1575) 2007-01-15 21:37

Hi Alvin,
This is a beautiful image, sharp and well exposed. The rocks in the foreground provide interesting abstract shapes that contrast with the rectangular skyscrapers. You were at the right place at the right time. But then, Vancouver is the right place to be at any time.
Vincent

gneufeld (15285) 2007-01-15 21:56

Hi Alvin, Just when I thought I had seen your very best sunrise recently, here is another absolutely superb and stunning shot. The colors, reflections,POV, and range of image features is perfect. Thanks for sharing. Gerald

Ann75 (0) 2007-01-15 22:11

Hello Alvin,

Another one of those stunning shots of the Vancouver skyline early in the morning with such vibrant colours. I love the rocks in the foreground, the beautiful reflections, the city lights and the stunning sky above. Great composition and great details! Excellent work, Alvin!

Greetings,
Ann

PS: Congratulations on that huge mural! Haven't been to Metrotown yet, but will have a look next time I am there. It looks absolutely fabulous and how great that this is your work! Hopefully there will be more in store for you like that! :D

SamB (1948) 2007-01-15 22:16

Hello, Alvin--
Great work here. i like how you took a beautiful sunset and used it in a quality composition rather than trying to let the sunset carry itself--both in the sky and in the reflection the trees decrease in height as they go to the right, much as the illuminated cloud cuts a diagonal from the left hand corner to the middle of the right side of the frame. The trees are well balanced with the city, also, giving precedence in quantity of space taken, but bolder as a silhouette. The foreground is nice, keeping the picture easy to relate to, but i'm not sold on the big rock in the middle... it seems kind of out of place. Also, congrats on the sale--it looks great in there!
Thanks!
sam

PJE (19573) 2007-01-15 22:24

Good Evening Alvin. Just amazing and wonderful to behold this moment here. I love the colored arch in the sky and reflection. Another one of your masterpieces....excellent capture Alvin!
Thanks for sharing!

banyanman (7739) 2007-01-15 22:41

Wow, this is stunning, Alvin. Until I read your note I assumed you must have done some PP on this to get those brilliant colours, but as a 'natural' shot it's a great capture. Technically your image could not be better - a perfect exposure. I noted some of the critiques about the composition. Personally I like it exactly as you have composed it. If you cropped it as Katia has suggested, it will be too symmetrical. It's nicely balanced as it is, and as Sam pointed out, you are not relying totally on the sunrise to carry the shot (although with those colours you certainly could have done that). Cheers . . . David

PS: It's nice to see your work in that shop. I walked into a photo shop the other day and saw one of my Sri Lanka sunsets being used as a screen saver on all their computers. Technically a breach of copyright - but I didn't say anything as I was flattered to see one of my images on screens all around the shop.

Iuli (838) 2007-01-15 22:47 [Comment]

Show Comment

BMYNBR (104) 2007-01-16 0:17

Oh my god, that is possibly the best pic I have seen of Vancouver. You have a knack of being at the right place at the right time.
Awsome as always.
Dave

Giis (258) 2007-01-16 0:25

Hi Alvin, yes, you were very lucky to find it. Its great!, you inspire me to waking up earlier than I used to do. :)
Furthermore it's very sharp and have a good composition. Congratulations for your sale! TFS.

narpad (945) 2007-01-16 1:14

Fantastic colors and reflections! Congrats and TFS.

Nick

vesalius (857) 2007-01-16 1:21

WOW Alvin, you really got some phenomenal shots from that morning. The colours are surreal. The composition is excellent as always.

Don

DarkoG (2284) 2007-01-16 1:50

Fine evening cityscape. Lovely colours and beautiful reflections in the water.

Regards Darko

MikiM (1916) 2007-01-16 1:50

Hi Alvin,
This is amazing!
I've never see this combintaion of the metropolis and the nature - calm and exciting in the same time.
NOt suprisingly I like the marvelous colors and the really high contrast. Congrats for your success with the store display!
TFS,
Miklós

ChrisJ (70443) 2007-01-16 3:48

Hi Alvin

A superb sunrise, with marvellous symmetry & reflections. Outstanding color & sharpness. Tfs!

chicken (1781) 2007-01-16 4:57

In this image I really like the colours, especially in the reflection where it's a bit more subdued. Also great how the nature represented by the woods and the rocks seems to warily watch the sleeping/waking city.

Congratulations to your sale, it certainly looks BIG. :-) What was the original resolution of the images and how did it scale up?

mdetay (4362) 2007-01-16 5:17

Hi Alvin,
Good shot. Well done. Extremely nice colors and composition.
Congratulation.
Cheers from Hong Kong.
Michel

nwoehnl (120) 2007-01-16 5:40

Beautiful atmosphere in this one, Alvin, it almost seems a dream scene due to the way in which the reflection amplifies the mood created by the intense colors in the sky. The reflections are beautiful and add a quiet touch to the downtown view. Having the foreground rock so centered is debatable from a compositional point of view, but all in all this is really a fine piece of work.

Edit: I just saw the WS with your photos installed in the shop ... cool stuff, congratulations!

PixelTerror (87137) 2007-01-16 5:42

Hi Alvin,
It's amazing what you get there in terms of sunrise,another nice skyline at dawn one with the usual quietness and stunning colors, when discovering this picture I first liked the depth setting rock, but on the other way it breaks the clouds symetry... Liked the WS as well, do you also get a discount on the clothes ?
Have a nice day,
Jean-Yves

Fis2 (46651) 2007-01-16 5:46

Witaj Alvin!
Very interesting colours. Good composition and frame. I like the reflection in water. Wewll done.
Regards
Krzysztof

silvia_zenova (1318) 2007-01-16 5:54

Hi Alvin ,
I like your shot, it's beautiful urban landscape by night, with good composition and the reflection in the water are so great, but the picture seems like is oversaturated :)
Regards, Silvia

partha (13677) 2007-01-16 6:34

Hi Alvin ,
Excellent shot. I like the rich tonality of colour.Twilight is the favourite light for most og the photographers. I like the mixture of natural and the artificila light along with the reflection of the cityscape in water.
Regards.
partha

prezntime (3945) 2007-01-16 6:50

Jesus Alvin...this is real? These have got to be some of the most amazing colors I've seen in any sky. I mean, I've seen some brilliant pinks and blues, but this takes the cake. I here that sunrises/sunsets look brilliant when filtered through the dust of a volcano...I imagine this is a little like what you would get. It is a brilliant exposure and supremly well done friend.
Regards,
Chris.

be back

Isab (865) 2007-01-16 7:43

Bonjour
Très belle photo, les couleurs sont incroyables et le point de vue est magnifique.
Bye
Isabelle

danyy (69837) 2007-01-16 11:00

Bonjour Alvin,
une fois de plus, des couleurs qui séduisent directement. Un peu inhabituelles. Elles prolongent leur séduction jusqu'au plus profond de leurs reflets.
Une photo bien cadrée et prise au bon moment.
Best regards.
Daniel.

maximage (13670) 2007-01-16 12:54

Bonsoir Alvin,
Tout a été dit, La force de cette photo: les couleurs sublimes!
Amicalement.
max

lilimih33 (9874) 2007-01-16 17:22

Hello Alvin!
Fantastic picture! The colours, light, reflexion, sharpnes, point of view, all... it's just perfect!
Excellent done!
Lili

john_c (24635) 2007-01-16 20:33

Hi Alvin,
The most amazing part about this shot is the bright colourful line of cloud reflected in the water. The boulder really enhances here and adds drama. Your Nikon and eye were certainly not operating in bleary mode despite the early hour. First rate work.
John

singuanti (15240) 2007-01-16 21:49

Hi Alvin. That's awesome you were able to sell some of your work because of TE! I'm serious when I say this but your Vancouver waterfront shots just keep better and better. This shot is complete with the strong foreground. Congrats again Alvin and great shot too!

markstaples (15670) 2007-01-17 5:09

Another striking shot with fantastic colours which has been expertly exposed. The water is like a sheet of metal reflecting the silhouetted buildings and colours of the sky. Very nice work.
Best wishes
Mark

Cretense (57430) 2007-01-17 6:58

Hi Alvin!

Another magic capture from the "twillight" zone!Great use of long exposure that gives this "mirror" effect in the surface of the water. Amazing composition, beautiful reflection and magic colours! You are a true master!

Best regards,
Hercules

evanrizo (456) 2007-01-17 12:38

Hi Alvin.
What is this!!!
What a wonderful view-work is it!!! Unbelievable, this light, colors, mirroring and point of view.
Bravo and thanks for share it.

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2007-01-17 14:03

Hi Alvin,
Another excellent early morning shot. It sure pays to get up early. Wonderful colours and reflections. It sure must feel great to see one's work donning the walls. Thanks and Congratulations for the WS.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

keribar (42760) 2007-01-18 15:06

Hello Alvin,

These series are incredible as if there's a magic, going on in everyone of them, These colors make me crazy - Izzet

Benedict (7062) 2007-01-19 1:17

if TE only allows me to give you 50 smiley points for this work, i would!! it is marvel, alvin!
benedict

brevbrev14 (372) 2007-01-19 5:48

Hi ALvin, absolutely your style in this image!
a wonderful reflection with great colours!
the skyline of the town is wonderful too!
i like a lot!
ciao!
Valeria

abulafia (4802) 2007-01-20 4:35

Hello Alvin
Quite a colorful sunset you found here! This shot got it all, still water with reflections, sunset colors and a city skyline to top it off.
nice work
Harry

plimrn (19832) 2007-01-21 6:01

Oh my!! Congratulations!! I opened this photo for its stunning color (too bad you couldn't get that rock to move out of your second rainbow of light so it could be perfect too ;->) and then I read your note!! That is a stunning display of your photos. It strikes me that it requires a canvas of that size to truly do them justice. I would love to see them in person.

After reading the critiques I'm back to the PP, Luck has nothing to do with your carful planning to take advantake of the best light. The nearly twin arches provide an extravagant frame of light for the city and its relection. The tree silhoutes provide a balance that makes the view much more than the typical cityscape. I wish I could give this photo way more than 2 points!! HLJ, Pat

CaptainJack (0) 2007-01-23 23:52

Hi Alvin, sorry coming to this one a bit late, but must say I think its one of your best (among your Coal Harbour shots)! Incredible sureal colours throughout, making it eerie and beautiful at the same time. That killer skyline, can't be beat either!

ephemere33 (9729) 2007-01-24 17:23

pourquoi pas de ces jolies tientes presque fluos, j'aime beaucoup de dynamisme dans cette compos et le reflet est du plus bel effet,un veritable miroir, merci du partage, amicalement Bi

setenay (7604) 2007-02-08 16:10

Hi Alvin,
what a beautiful colors and reflections,wonderful sunrise.Congratulations for your exellent shot.I am lucky to see Vancouver and Stanley Park.Thanks for your sharing
Greetings
setenay

Yffic (6106) 2007-02-16 14:13

Hi Alvin.

Your colors are so nice...
I really love these pink and blue atmosphere.
A real nice gem.

Regards.

Yves